Arrested Trinamool MP urges police to take Mamata's help

Arrested Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh Saturday night urged police to take help of 12 people including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Saradha scam probe.

In a post on Facebook, Ghosh called himself a victim of a "deep conspiracy" and said he has been "wrongfully" arrested.

"I am a media employee. I was not involved in any chit fund,' said Ghosh, hours after his arrest in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam - the biggest financial scandal to hit the state.

Ghosh said he was cooperating with the investigation, and made himself to police whenever he was summoned. "But police will not take my help. The case is being set up to protect several people."

He also claimed that those involved in the letter purportedly written by Saradha group chief and alleged scam mastermind Sudipta Sen to the Central Bureau of Investigation in April were behind the conspiracy in cooking up the case against him.

In the letter to CBI, Sen had named Ghosh as also another Trinamool MP and some Congress leaders alongside others and urged the federal agency to treat the missive as an FIR.

"Help should be sought in the probe from those who knew Sen, and received direct or indirent help of the Saradha Group, or know things in some other way," he said, and gave 12 names including state Sports Minister Madan Mitra, besides Banerjee.

The other names included those of some MPs and newspaper owners, and Trinamool national general secretary Mukul Roy.

Mitra said law would take its course. "I am a minister. A probe is on. If I say anything, the probe may be affected. So I won't make any comment."

However, he rubbished the reference to Banerjee in Ghosh's post. "Banerjee is one of the best social activists in the world."

Asked whether he was prepared to face any probe, Mitra said: "500 percent".

Ghosh said those he has named were also "respected" and "eminent". "I am not making any allegations. I am only talking of seeking help."